2010 Ends....

Well this year has been a big year in the King household...lots of new things, and lots of the same 'ol. Our Son turned 4, started a new pre-school, learned how to unlock my cell phone, learned how to use the computer, and generally became a wonderful little man. Our Daughter turned 1, started walking, started talking, grew loooooong hair, and became the fiestiest little girl that we love so much! King Dad finished his school program, and spent lots of time with the kids. I planned parties, juggled my family, worked full time, went back to school, and GRADUATED from college finally!


Queen London's Carriage grew in a few aspects by starting this blog, by opening a facebook, by brainstorming, planning and throwing a few fun parties, and by just keepin' on. Queen Grandma continued to sell her vintage on etsy, and I sold a few digital files on etsy. We still love what we do, and how we can do it together. Below are a few photos from our year in 2010.

London's first ever birthday party

Easton turned 4 at his Dinosaur Party

We celebrated our 8th wedding anniversary...8 YEARS!!!

Easter

We let our little one play at the Queen Grandma's IN THE MUD!!!!

Alice in Wonderland Tea Party & Cookie Baking Party

Halloween

We took the kids to Disneyland and celebrated the King Dad's 30th birthday!We matched our clothes.....even after all these years!!! We are truly best of friends!
I graduated from Fresno Pacific University.

Queen Grandma threw me an amazing party!

And we had an amazing Christmas that I haven't blogged about. Maybe someday you can see my tree, the Queen Grandma's tree, and all things royal for our holiday. Thanks for sticking around to see what we're up to. We have exciting things coming in the next few weeks, and I can't wait to share with you what we have planned!

Graduation Party 2010

December 11, 2010 I did something that has been in the works for many, many years....I GRADUATED FROM COLLEGE!!! I know there is no time frame to finish something that important, I wish I would have done this years ago!!!


My sweet Son came and supported me, and he was such a trooper.
1:00pm-2:00pm car ride to school
2:00-3:00pm wait for the ceremony while holding seats
3:00-4:30pm watch boring adult graduation ceremony
4:45-5:15pm car ride to restaurant
5:15-5:35pm wait for seats at restaurant
5:35pm-6:35pm eat in an adult establishment
6:35-7:05pm car ride home
= GOOD BOY!!!


Of course, my Husband, who watched the kids, listened to me cry when I was frustrated, dropped off dinner at school, brought stuff I had forgotten, and generally helped to put me through this schooling.


My parents who had this dream for me, and both said that "this was the best Christmas gift they could have received this year". They wanted this for me the first time I went to school, and second time I enrolled, and I finally decided enough was enough and applied for graduation!!!

Here are my: (from left) Sister-in-law Tiffani, Husband Eddie, Son Easton, me!, Sister-in-law Tori, and Sister-in-law Tara.......who watched me walk this walk...and their Mom would have been there will bells on if she could have been (and I suspect that she was there anyways)!

These girls are so important to me, and I hope to someday watch each one of them do the same walk I did!
My Mom and Cousin Janice threw this amazing get together for me, and wait till you see all the details!!!! Do you see that cake?!!! Piece O Cake by Olivia made this cake, and it was exactly what my Mom had in mind!!!

Again, Piece O Cake by Olivia designed, completed, and delivered this amazing cake!

It is no surprise that my Mom put this display together, and it is all things that are loved by us! We always make caramel apples, like for everything!!!, vintage desserts, keys to our heart, frames and pears (there is a side story to this: when my Husband and I got married oh so many years ago, and our theme was red and tan, with pears "Quite a pear"!! lololol, so it is no surprise that these pears would make a surprise appearance at my graduation party).

Do you see those cupcakes with fondant toppers??? Olivia made those too, yep! There were four designs, but my absolute favorite was the one with the silhouette on it. The silhouette was a graduate (me) holding the hands of her two adorable kids (made exclusively for this event).

Nobody can turn down red velvet cupcakes!!!!

This hand towel was the inspiration for the entire party, and my Mom did an amazing job!! I created the silhouette that is framed above the towel, and I was able to keep it afterwards to remind myself forever that I DID IT!!! With a Husband, and 2 kids in tow!!

And a very good family friend made these sugar cookies, and let me just tell you that they are amazing...not like good, like I ate the entire bag that night while I stayed up late with my Sister-in-law talking!!!

We did not take my Daughter to the actual graduation because can you imagine an almost 2 years old having to stick to that schedule I outlined earlier for my Son? Uh, no! She stayed home with the friend who made those sugar cookies!!

And here is the last picture from my party...my beautiful Sister-in-laws. I want to formally and publicly thank my Mother who listened to me, gave me advice, and who threw me this party. My Dad may have helped too! And to my Husband, who again, helped to push me to do this. To my kids, who gave me the drive to do it. And to my Mother-in-law who would have been there with bells on, and I believe she was there. She is probably the one who poked me, and reminded me that I needed to DO IT!!!!!

And thank you to all who read this blog....I love what I do!!!!

Lack of posts

I am so sorry for the lack of posts for those of you who check back here. I have recently went back to school, and am in the last push to finish those classes!!! I will post pictures in 10 days...because I GRADUATE DECEMBER 11!!!! I have always gotten so close, and then I don't actually finish, and start in a new program, so I will finally have my bachelors degree...and will be done there! Woo hoo!!! So I am sorry that I have all but abandoned this blog, but don't you worry i am still making stuff! Recently, I designed and printed the announcements and invitations for my graduation party, designed a good friend's baby shower invitation, designed several Christmas labels, and am designing Christmas tags to put on this blog so watch out for those!!!

Mary Poppins Sweaters and Mickey Mouse Shirts

Last week we used our volunteer a day passes to take the kids to Disneyland. This was a very special trip because we took my nephew too! So of course I have to go completely overboard, and make shirts...and skirts...and sweaters (you get the idea)!

Below are my 2 kids with their clothing. Easton's shirt has an alligator (because he's obsessed with catching and wrangling alligators) with Mickey Mouse inside his mouth holding the alligators mouth open with one finger! London has a skirt with the London skyline on it, and Mary Poppins floating in from the Heavens....practicallly perfect in every way!
Here is my Dad holding the kids before the Nemo submarine. You get a really good picture of Easton's shirt here. Now there is a disclaimer. My Mom and I were going to finish the details on the shirt in the car on the way, and of course, we forgot to bring needles. So we were searching, and even stopped to try to buy a sewing kit, and none of the little places we stopped had them, so these shirts were missing a few minor details....but I'm sure I'm the only one who noticed!

Here is our family picture. You can kind of see my sweater in this picture. I made the same skyline and Mary Poppins for the bottom of my sweater. I also madee twisty flowers with big pink bows to pin on the other side of the sweater.

So the Queen Grandma, and Mommy had matching, and it was so cool to match with my Daughter too! I absolutely love making these hand made items, and wish I had more time to do so!

Thank you everyone for following my blog! I would love to do a free printable, but want some kind of direction to head...so if you have any ideas please comment and let me know what you would like to see!

Halloween 2010

As always, I'm not an "off the rack" kind of girl, so when it came time for Halloween, I knew there was not going to be a costume that you could just purchase on my kids! Since my Son is 4.5 now, he wanted to pick his own costume (even though I begged and pleaded with him to match his Sister). Easton chose to be a Ghostbuster. I thought about making my Daughter into the stay puft marshmallow man, or even a little ghost, but do I want to remember my Daughter as a little ghost....no! So, since he got to choose his costume, I figured I get to choose the other one right? So, London was a peacock. Both costumes were handmade or found partially handmade, and needed a little help....

Here they are sitting on our front porch with their pumpkins....and that pacificer (aka pappy) hardly leaves this little fiesty girls mouth!

When they were trick or treating, they held hands for bit (before London's hands got ridiculously sticky from her lolli pop). They may not have had matching costumes, but they still go together!

Here is my Daughters costume finished. I took a plain white onesie and stitched layers of circles cut from felt, circles cut from lace, and ruffles left from her skirt into a circle pattern on her chest. I then attached that skirt (on clearance from Forever 21) to the onesie. London's headband was wrapped with the matching fabrics, and then the Queen Grandma had a vintage hat in the perfect blue color with the netting and the leaves, and one of the peacock feathers I made with lace glued around it. I really feel like the headband made the costume (but I might be partial)! Her feather spray was made from cardboard wrapped with batting and blue felt fabric. I then stitched elastic to the spray and it became "wings" kind of.

Easton's costume took much less time stitching and cutting, but was just as fun to make. We found a tutorial here for the backpack. Essentially, you find a box that fits your child's dementions, then stuff a backpack inside the box and make the appropriate cuts for the straps to fit though. Then spray black, and attach all kinds of fun and interesting stuff to it. Easton's included: frozen dinner tray, RC car mini box, old garage door opener, tin tape (thanks to Daddy), a garden hose (thanks to Grandpa), and wires of all colors. If you visit At Second Street's blog, she really does show you exactly how to make this super cute (and easy enough for your child to help) costume. My Mom found his jumpsuit at the Thrift Store, and I stitched the ghostbuster symbol back on it.

Here's another cute picture of my little Ghostbuster!

And a close up of the backpack. Hot glue goes a long way in this project!!

And my Daughter trying to eat every piece of candy that she found! And if you noticed I personalized their candy buckets by using vinyl stickers of their names on their pumpkin buckets. Thanks Grandma for their buckets!!

I hope everyone had a wonderfully spooky Halloween!!!

Mismatchy is in right?!

Okay, so I did the funniest/silliest thing of my life yesterday. About 11:00am somebody came in my office and commented on my clothing, so I stood up to model my pants, and I look down, AND I HAD TWO DIFFERENT SHOES ON!!! Literally, I had on one black boot, and one brown boot!! I didn't even notice!!!

So, the back story: when I am getting dressed I don't put my glasses on, so when I'm looking through the floor of my closet for my shoes I can usually tell the difference without my glasses, but apparently yesterday I could not! And secondly, I didn't turn the overhead light on yesterday, I only turned on my nightstand light. So, as a note......I made very sure that I had on matching shoes today!!!!

Grandma's......

I was reading a post today about "a Grandma by any name is still a Grandma", and it began me thinking....my kids have all kinds of Grandma's...
1. Grandma (Maternal Grandma, or we refer to her on here at the Queen Grandma)
2. Grandma Tami (Paternal Grandma, or we do call her Grandma and Mama Tami)
3. Grandma Delores (Maternal Great-Grandma)
4. Grandma Bobbie (Maternal Great-Grandma)
5. G.G. (Paternal Great-Grandma)
6. Grandma King (Paternal Great-Grandma)
7. Nana (Paternal Step-Grandma)
8. and one other than we haven't quite decided what her title will be....maybe we'll just call her by her name (Paternal Step-Step-you get the idea)!

I am thankful for each one of these women for their role in my children's lives. My Mom is the funnest, adventure seeking, playing in the dirt kind of Grandma, and it doesn't bother her one bit! My late Mother-in-law was amazing for me and my Son; she was always up for whatever we had in mind, and just giggled when I had an idea that was out there.

I just wanted to thank my Mom for being so fun! Easton loves to come to your house! And I wish I could have spent more time with my Mother-in-law, and I hope she can see the kids from Heaven!

The Blessed Nest is hosting a link party - Please check it out!

This Blessed Nest is hosting a link party, and I included my silhouettes! Please check her site out, and give me some feedback on what you would do with a custom silhouette!

Simple as that giveaway!

I was just over at simple as that, and they are having a giveaway that I would love, love, love to win!!!! The giveaway is for Sweet Suite Photoshop Actions by Life.Camera.Actions.! I already posted it on my facebook, but everyone should enter, and everyone should take a look at how great your photos could look!!!

Crisol's Alice in Wonderland Party

A customer of mine, Crisol, was kind enough to lend me her photos she took of her Daughter's birthday party. Crisol did an amazing job, and she used my blue and pink Alice in Wonderland Party Collection (you can view here).

Look at this amazing cake.......what a perfect cake for this theme!!!

And her tower of cupcakes looks amazing!!!!!!!!

Crisol's Daughter Emily is "Alice", and look how cute the two girls look....

Each placesetting looked like this:

And this:

And you can see the cupcake toppers added to the muffins, and the banner circles in the background.

Muffins and little tea cakes look super cute with the toppers in them.

And lastly, the adorable birthday girl, Emily! Happy 6th Birthday sweet girl! I hope you had a great birthday party! I was honored to help design the paper products for your tea party!

Halloween Fans by Lil' Luna on eighteen25

Over on eighteen25's blog, they are are filling their site with cute DIY decorations for Halloween! You can find the tutorial here for Lil' Luna's paper fan decorations....I, for one, LOVE them!!! I may just have to make a few wreaths covered in these for my doors!

Photo courtesy of eighteen25

Ripping and Tearing Fabric for Backdrops

Okay, so I was just perusing my usual daily reads and cam accross Celebrations at Home's blog. I thought to myself OMG!!!! They are writing about hanging stuff like lace and fabric to create backdrops. My Mom did this last year!!! Do you all remember seeing the pictures of Roxanne's vintage green wedding? I feel like we were ahead of the curve!!! And let me tell you, this entire wedding was a DIY. We had like 4 hours before the wedding to have it ready!!! Luckily, the Queen Grandma, Grandpa, my King Husband, and my 2 kids were on hand to help tear fabric for the table cloths. And you must do the "rrrrrrrrrrip" sound when you are tearing the seams. Please see my post about this beautiful wedding! I so enjoyed helping with this one!

You know what my most favorite part of the decor for this wedding was?

It was most definately the vegan cupcakes sitting atop the tree trunks....aren't they cute?! EEEEEEEEEE!!! I hope you are all having a great Tuesday!

Jones Design Company - Audrey's Nursery

I was searching around today, and found this beautiful nursery! I love everything about it....and I mean everything. You can find Jones Design Company here .
I love this ruffle pillow, and especially.....the crown print hanging behind it. Where do I find that?!!!!!!

Above is the changing table, with a print of vintage sweets...I love everything in this nursery is so non-Babies R Us.

I love the mossy green, and that bed is just too cute. My Mom bought and has stored a bed very similar to this one in white with tall four posts.....I almost can't wait for London to go into a big girl bed, and that's only because I get to re-decorate!

And lastly, I think this Mom of 4 is amazing, she owns her own company and is raising 3 boys and only 1 girl. She deserves some serious credit!!! AND then she blogs about it!!!